Road spreader



AJuly 2, 1935. c.' H. NABER 2,006,473

ROAD SPREADER Filed Oct. 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll'/ 1f@ 3 f E51.

IN VEN TOR A TTORNE YS July'2, 1935. c. H. NABER 2,006,473

ROAD SPREADER Filed oct. 17, 1931 5 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR 6,3 64 60 B Y p A TTORNE July 2, 1935.

C. H. NABER ROAD SPREADER Filed Oct. 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR Zande/5472450# BY/JW omdpawm/ A TTORNE YS Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f ROAD SPREADER Claude-H. Naber, Hamburg, N. Y., assigner `to This invention r spreader which is sarily limited to, u ingtruck wherein N & H Spreaders, Inc., Hamburg, l corporation of New York N. Y., a

. Application October 17, 1931, Serial No. 569,482

* Claims.

elates to an improved material designed for, but not necesse in connection with a dumpthe spreader is adapted to re- *5 ceive material such as crushed rock which is dumped from the truck bodyfand to spread such material over a rprepared surface. Moreparticularlyl the invention is concerned with a spreader of the type whic h is provided with agitating means for maintaining material within the hopper in a loose condition and to insure a uniform and even distribution of the material.

In spreaders of it has 'heretofore been the practice to supply power mechanicall the type kgenerally described,

y to the agitating means either ually as, for exam ple, by a workman. By virtue of the two types of power i. e. mechanical and manual for operating agitating means, it has been necessary, heretofore, to design the agitating means so that it would be suitable for the kind ofpower to be utilized in connection with it.

The principalfobject of the present invention is to provide a spreader of the type generally described in which the agitator isfavailable for conriectonv to power as from the driving system of the truck or the ground through an auxiliary wheel and which is also available formanual operation when the latter is desirable from a standpointrof economy A further object tion and arrangem or otherwise.

is to provide a novel construcent of the parts of the spreader whereby the latter may be quickly and conveniently attached to the truck by a si er detached from the body of ngle workman, the hopper of the .spreader being formed to cooperatewith the f body of the truck so that upon its securement to the body it issupported therebyY in a position best adapted` for the purpose in View.

A still further object isto provide a novel mechanism forvmechanically operating the agi- ,taten A still further o bject is to provide avconstruction wherein the agitator is not only availed of to loosen the material within the hopper and insure a uniform di is also utilized to charge opening.

stributionof the material but regulate the width of the dis- A spreader embodying the features ofthe invention. is illustrat ings, wherein:-

edin the accompanying drawdotted lines; In this embodimenty the agitator i and associated parts are designed for manual operation.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of thel spreader. Figure 3 is aview similar to Figure 1, the spreader in this embodiment, however, being illustrated with auxiliary drive whereby the agli tator may be mechanically operated.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the end of the spreader which includes the operating mechanism for the agitator. Figure 5 is a transverse section throughout the hopper taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 isV an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a similar section taken alongfline 'I-I of Figure 1.

The spreader, as illustrated, may be employe in connection with a truck of any preferred type including a body I and a chassis II. It comprises a hopper I2 of any suitable construction, the construction shown consisting of Vertical side walls I3 and M and inclined frontand rear walls I5 and IG respectively, all of which are suitably secured together. The lower-marginal yedges of said `front and rear walls are spaced apart te providea discharge or outlet opening from which the material emerges as it is delivered tothe road or other desired surface. The hopper is re'- inforced adjacent the discharge or outlet opening by suitable bars I3a which are arranged over the said opening and which are suitably connected at their ends to the front and rear walls I5 and I6. The side -walls I3 and I4 are lpreferably formed to extend below the said front and rear walls to provide suitable legs I'I, whereby the hopper when detached from a vehicle may be rested in an upright position so as to facilitate its subsequent attachment to a Vehicle when desired. f f

In accordance with the invention the entire weight of the hopper and its contents is supported from the body of the truck regardless of whether the agitator is to be operated mechanicallyo'r manually. To this end, the front Wall" I5 of the hopper is formed with an angular extension I8. The length of the hopper' is such that the end of ythe truck body can be accommodated between the side or end walls I3 and I4 while the exten'- sion I8 'of the front wall I5 is formed at "an angle such that when drawn tightly against the bottom of tlriefvtrucli:body,` the latter being inclined in `the position to which it'is moved to effect dis-'- `sliding movement upon the said rods. are of ,such a length as to permit movement of `the 'gate 3| between predetermined limits in one charge of its contents by gravity, the hopper is in a substantially upright or vertical position. 'I'he hopper, as illustrated, is secured to the body of the truck in the position described by suitable pulleys I9 and 20 carried by the side wall |3 of the hopper and a similar pulley 2| carried by the side wall |4 (see Figure 5). The said pulleys cooperate with a pair of pulleys 22 and 22a and a cable 23, the former may be conveniently connected to and disconnected from suitable U-bolts 30 carried by the truck body while the latter is suitably secured at one end to the side wall |4 of the hopper. From its iixed end, the cable passes over pulley 22a, under pulleys 2| and 20, over pulley 22, under pulley I9 and about the drum 24 of a windlass 25. upon the side wall |3 and the shaft 26 by which the drum is operated extends through the said wall and is formed at its outer end as at 21 to cooperate with a suitable operating handle. A ratchet wheel 28 is iixed to the shaft 2S for rotation with the drum 24, which ratchet wheel cooperates with a dog 29 mounted upon the side wall |3 to prevent unwinding of the cable 23 when once the hopper has been secured to the truck body in the manner desired. In this connection, it is to be noted that the entire weight of the hopper and its contents is supported by the pulleys 22, the latter being provided with suitable hooks 2|a so that they may be conveniently connected to and disconnected from the U-bolts 3D.

The spreader may be conveniently attached toy a truck by a single workman. This may be easily accomplished by unwinding a suiiicient length of the cable 23 from the drum 24 to enable the hooks 2|a; of the pulleys 22 and 22a to be connected to the U-bolts 30, without bodily lifting the hopper, it being understood that the hopper is maintained in an upright position during this operation by the legs 1. Upon operation of the windlass 25, assuming the body of the truck is in the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the hopper is drawn up against the truck body in the manner shown in this figure, in which position the legs 1 are supported a substantial distance above the plane occupied by the wheels of the vehicle.

The discharge of material from the hopper through the discharge opening provided by the lower margins of the front and rear Walls I5 and I6 respectively is regulated by a gate 3|. The .latter is provided with spaced angle members 32 which extend beyond the said ends. The gate 3| is supported by means of these extensions from rods 33 and 34 by arms 35 and 36, respectively. The rods 33 and 34 are secured by suitable brackets 31 to and in spaced relation from the respective side walls I3 and |4, the said rods being substantially parallel to the rear wall I6 of the hopper. The arms 35 and 36 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the extensions provided by the angular members 32 by bolts 38. The said arms are also pivotally mounted upon the rods 33 and 34. In this instance, however, it will be noted that the arms are also mounted for The latter of which the discharge opening is substantially closed by the gate and the other of which the discharge opening is substantially unobstructed by the gate) The arms 35 and 36 support the `gate 3| in close proximity and substantially parallel to the Wall I6.

, f Means is provided whereby the gate 3| may be adjusted in a plane substantially parallel to the The latter is suitably mounted plane occupied by the wall I6 to control the width of the discharge opening, it being understood that the quantity of material discharged from the hopper and hence the thickness of the layer' depends upon the distance between the lower margin of the wall I5 and the lower margin of the gate 3|. The means by which the latter is adjusted in vthe manner described includes a shaft 39 which is journaled in 'suitable bearings mounted upon the rear wall IG. At the end of the shaft 39 adjacent the side wall 3, the shaft carries an arrn 4|] which is connected intermediate its ends to a link 4|. The opposite end of the link is connected to the arm 35. The other end of the shaft 39 carries an arm 42 which is connected by a link 43 to the arm 36. The shaft 39 is formed as at 44 (see Figure 1) to cooperate with a suitable crank 45. The latter may be operated to' rotate the shaft 39, which movement is transmitted through arms 4!) and 42 and links 4| and 43` to the opposite ends of the gate 3|, whereby the latter may be adjustedv to regulate the ow of material from the hopper.

In order to secure the gate 3| in the position to which it is adjusted, the side wall |3 of the hopper carries an' arcuate element 45 which is formed with a series of holes 41. The outer end of the arm 4U is formed with a hole 48 which is registerable with each of the holes 41. Thus, by the use of a pin or the like the arm 40 may be secured in any position at which the hole 48 registers with a hole 41.

In accordance with the invention, the gate 3| in addition to controlling the width of the discharge opening in the manner described is also availed of to maintain the material Within the hopper in a loose condition and to insure a uniform Iiow of material from the discharge opening throughout its entire length. This is accomplished by vibrating the gate 3| in the direction of its length. In this connection, it will be understood that such vibratory movements are permitted by virtue ofthe pivotal connection between the arms 35 and 35 and the rods 33 and 34 upon which they are mounted as Well as by virtue of the pivotal connection between theopposite ends of the said arms and the gate extensions. Although movement of the gate 3| in this manner requires that it be spaced slightly away from the wall I6 at the lintermediate portions of its vibratory movements such spacing is not great enough to impair the desired manner of operation of the gate. The gate 3| is preferably formed or provided with ribs 49 which are arranged transversely of the discharge opening. The said ribs aid in loosening the material and also tumble the latter about so that its delivery through the discharge or outlet opening is facilitated. f

In accordance with the invention, means is provided whereby the gate 3| may be vibrated by hand or mechanically. In order to enable vibration of the gate 3| by the former method the arm 35 (Figures l and 2) is formed with a'laterally projecting rib 36a which extends lengthwise of the arm. A handle 31a, is suitably secured at its lower end to the rib 36a, the opposite end of the handle extending upwardly a distance suflicient to be within convenient reach of a workman standing in the vicinity of the hopper. It will be apparent that after the gate 3| has been adjusted to provide the desired width, of discharge opening, and while the hopper is being carried along by the truck, the handle 31a may be operated by a workman to vibrate the gate 3| in the direction of its length thereby causing the material delivered to the hopper from the body of the truck to be distributed in a uniform layer of a predetermined depth.

The gate 3| may be operated mechanically if desired. Mechanism for operating the gate in this manner is illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 inclusive. The said means includes a wheel 58 which is adapted to frictionally engage the surface over which the truck is passing and is designed to slip should the material in the hopper obstruct the discharge opening in such a manner as to prevent the operation of the gate in the manner required. The wheel 58 is journaled in a bracket 59 which in turn is loosely or pivotally mounted on a shaft 60. The latter carries a sprocket 6I on its outer end and a beveled gear 62 on its inner end. The sprocket 6I is connected to a sprocket 63carried by the wheel 58, by a chain 64. The beveled gear 62 meshes with a beveled gear 65 carried upon an extension B6 of a shaft 61. At its opposite end the shaft 6l carries a similar extension. 66a.. The extensions 66 and 35a, are journaled in bearings 69 carried by a bracket 1U. The said extensions are formed eccentrically of the shaft 61 `and hence provide an eccentric mounting for the latter, it being noted that the said shaft is supported in spaced relation from the side wall i3 substantially parallel to the rod 33. The shaft 5l passes through an opening 1| formed in an extension '|2 of the arm 35. It will be apparent that as the shaft 61 is rotated through the agency of the wheel 58, the arm 35 will be oscillated and that this movement will be transmitted to the gate 3| whereby the latter will be vibrated in the manner required. It will be noted that the shaft 61 is of such length as to cooperate with the extension 12 of the arm 35 in the various positions to which the latter may be adjusted upon the rod 33 inv obtaining the required adjustment of the gate 3|.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the gate 3| which is availed of to vary the width of the discharge or outlet opening of the hopper also serves to agitate the material within the hopper so that a uniform distribution of the material is insured. The construction, therefore, as compared to prior constructions is materially simplied. The manner in which the gate 3| is v vibrated has the further advantage that the gate may be Vibrated either mechanically or manually as desired. Hence, from a manufacturing standpoint spreaders constructed in accordance with the invention, regardless of the manner in which they are to be operated, may be substantally of standard construction. Where mechanical means is to be availed of in operating the agitator, it is `only necessaryto add the additional mechanism required for this purpose.

I claim: f

1. In a spreader for attachment to a vehicle the combination of a hopper having sidewalls and inclined front and rear walls, the lower portion of the latter delimiting an outlet opening, a member adjacent said outlet opening, yarms for carrying said member, guide elements carried by said hopper, said arms being pivotally mounted upon said elements and being pivotally connected to the ends of said member, means for moving said'arms along said elements, whereby said member may be moved to vary the width of the outlet opening and means for rocking said arms upon said elements to vibrate said member in the direction of its length, thereby to agitate the material in thehopper adjacent the outlet opening.

2. In a spreader for attachment to a vehicle, the combination of a hopper having side walls and front and rear walls, the latter dening an outlet opening, a member adjacent said outlet opening, arms for carrying said member, guide elements carried by said hopper, said` arms being pivotally mounted upon said elements and being pivotally connected to said member, means for moving said arms along said elements, Whereby said member may be moved to vary the width of the outlet opening, a cam for rocking said arms to vibrate said member in the direction of its length and thereby agitate the material in the hopper adjacent the outlet opening, a wheel which engages the surface over which the vehicle passes and which is frictionally driven byv such engagement and means connecting said wheel with said` cam, whereby the latter is driven upon movement of the vehicle, thereby vibrating said member.

3. In a spreader for attachment to a vehicle, the combination of a hopper having end walls and inclined front and rear walls, said front and rear walls defining an outlet opening, a gate, elements secured to the end walls of said hopper, arms pivotally connected to 'the opposite ends of said gate and pivotally and slidably mounted upon said elements, means for moving said arms along said elements whereby to move said gate and to vary the width of the outlet opening and means for vibrating said gate in the direction of its length to agitate the material in the hopper adjacent said outlet opening.

4. In a spreader for attachment to a vehicle, thecombination of a hopper having end walls and inclined front and rear Walls, said front and rear walls defining an outlet opening, a gate, elements secured to the ends walls of said hopper, arms pivotally connectedl to the opposite ends ofA said gate and pivotally and slidably mounted upon said elements, means for moving said arms along said elements whereby to move said gate to vary the width oi the outlet opening and means connected to one of said arms which is operable to vibrate said gate in the direction ofv its length to agitate the material in the hopper adjacent said outlet opening.

5. In a spreader for attachment to a vehicle, thevcombination of a hopper having end walls and inclined front and rear walls, said front and rear walls defining an 'outlet opening, a gate, elements secured to the end walls of said hopper, arms pivotally connected to the ends of said gate and pivotally and slidably mounted upon said elements, means for moving said arms along said elements whereby to move said gate to vary the width of the outlet opening and means for vibrating said gate in the direction of its length to agitate the material in the hopper adjacent said outlet opening, said means including a cam to which one of said arms is connected, said cam being vso formed that the co-operating relation between it and said arm is maintained throughout the range of adjustment of said arms and means for driving said cam.

' CLAUDE H. NABER. 

